Stephen habeison



S HARRISON. Potato-Sepafatqr, NO. 40,258. Patented Oct. 13, 1863.

Witnesses:

' Inventor,

. view of the inclined vibrating screen.

UNITED STATES PATENT. ()FFICE.

STEPHEN HARRISON, OF ST. MIGHAELS, MARYLAND.

POTATG-SEPARATO R.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,258, dated October13, 1863.

To all whomt't may concern Be it known that I, STEPHEN HARRISON, of St.Michaels, in the county of Talbot, in the State of Maryland, haveinvented a new and usefulmachineforseparatingpotatoes,that will will inone operation separate them in two, three, or more sizes, and delivereach size intoa separate bag, basket, or pile; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this spec itication, in which Figure1 is a view of the machine asseen from above in a vertical direction.Fig: 2 is a side view of the internal parts with an outline of theopposite-side covering, the front covering, which is similar to itsopposite, being left, off for the purpose of allowing a clear view ofthe interior of the machine. Fig. 3 is an end Similanletters refer tocorresponding parts of the machine. 7

At 2' is a hollow cylinder formed of rings at each end, to which slatsare attached in such a manner as to form the cylinder. Between the slatsare open spaces of such width as will correspond with the sizeofpotatoes designed to pass through them.

Atj is an inclined plane, also formed of slats, with open spacescorresponding with the next size of potatoes to be separated. Thecylinder and the slatted plane beneath it are inclined in oppositedirections and at nearly equal angles. This is to facilitate the passageof the potatoes through, between, and over the slats; and the degree ofinclination of each may be regulated by raising or lowering an end byany of the well-known means of keys or screws acting on the bearings ofthe ends. The. upper end of the plane j is loosely suspended at e bymeans of a pivot-bolt. Its opposite or lower end is suspended by meansof two rodsattached to its sides, and at higher points to the sides ofthe machine-body; and there is I 'cate the form of the spout cunderneath it, as

seen from above. By turning the crank at h by hand or other power rotarymotion by ,means of the bevel-gearing is given to the first shaft and tothe pulley atf. This pulley being connected with the cylindert' by meansof a band, and by another band to the crankshaft beneath, rotary motionwill thus also be communicated'to the cylinder 1', and by means of thecrank at d a lateral vibrating motion to the incline planej. Henceprovidinga supply of nnculled potatoes in the hopper it is onlynecessary to turn the crank at h to put the whole machine in operationand to insure a steady flow of culled potatoes, the largest through thespout at b, the next size through the spout at c, and the smallest willfall underneath the vibrating incline plane j.

The number and gradation of the sizes will depend on the number ofinclined cullers in the machine and on the width of the openings betweenthe slats.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

Therevolving screen i, inclined in one direction, in combination withthe vibrating screen 7', inclined in an opposite direction, constructedand operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

STEPHEN HARRISON.

Witnesses:

WM. H. FAIRBANK, BENJAMIN SEvERsoN.

